Swivel connector for lamps and the like



Oct. 11, 1966 G. SNYDER SWIVEL CONNECTOR FOR LAMPS AND THE LIKE 2Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Feb. 5, 1964 mvsnron: GERSON SNYDER FIGB ATTYS.

Oct. 11, 1966 s. SNYDER SWIVEL CONNECTOR FOR LAMPS AND THE LIKE 2Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Feb. 5, 19

: Arms h l FF Q 3,278,203 SWIVEL CUNNECTUR FQR LAMPS AND THE LIKE GersonSnyder, Wynnewood, Pa, assignor to Snyder Manufacturing Company,Philadelphia, Pa, :1 corporation of Pennsylvania Filed Feb. 5, 1964,Ser. No. 342,758 5 Claims. (Cl. 285-160) This invention relates to newand useful improvements in swivel connectors, and more particularly toswivel connectors for lamps to connect the shade and socket assembly tothe fixed standard of the lamp in a manner to permit the shade assemblyto be adjustably positioned with respect thereto. The invention isespecially adapted for use in conjunction with so-called pole-lampscomprising a vertical tubular pole or standard to which one or more lampshade socket assemblies are adjustably secured by a connector throughwhich the electrical cord or wire passes from the pole or standard tothe shade for connection to the lamp socket mounted therein.

One of the difficulties which has plagued the art prior to the presentinvention has been the failure to provide a swivel connector of the typedescribed which can be connected readily and efficiently to both thelamp pole and the shade and which is constructed and arranged so thatfrequent manipulation of the swivel to adjustably position the shaderelative to the pole will not damage the electrical cord or wire whichpasses through the swivel.

With the foregoing in mind, an object of the present invention is toprovide a swivel connector of novel construction and arrangement whicheffectively overcomes and eliminates the difficulties and objections ofsimilar connectors heretofore available.

Another object of the invention is to provide a swivel connector asdescribed, certain .parts of which embody novel features of constructionand arrangement for securely attaching the connector to the pole andshade of the lamp in a relatively simplified, practical and efficientmanner.

Another object of the invention is to provide a swivel connector havingthe attributes set forth embodying novel features of construction andarrangement for limiting rotary adjustment of the lamp shade relative tothe pole or standard to prevent unlimited twisting of and resultantdamage to the electrical cord or wire passing through the connector.

A further object of the invention is to provide a swivel connectorembodying the foregoing features of construction and arrangement whichis comparatively inexpensive to manufacture and which may be quickly andeconomically installed and assembled.

These and other objects of the invention and the features and details ofthe construction and arrangement of parts embodied in the swivelconnector are hereinafter fully set forth and described and illustratedin the accompanying drawing, in which:

FIG. 1 is a partial side elevation view of a pole lamp incorporatingbetween the pole and lamp shade a swivel connector made in accordancewith the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a front elevational view of the portion of the pole lamp shownin FIG. 1 illustrating the limit of rotational movement of the lampshade relative to the pole about the longitudinal axis of the swivelconnector;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged sectional view longitudinally through the swivelconnector of the present invention showing the connections thereof tothe lamp pole and lamp shade;

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary sectional view of one end of the swivelconnector illustrating the manner in Which the shade is securelyattached to the lamp pole;

FIG. 5 is a view similar to FIG. 4 of the opposite end nited StatesPatent 0 ice of the connector illustrating the manner in which the sameis securely attached to the lamp shade;

FIG. 6 is an elevational view on line 6-6 of FIG. 4;

FIG. 7 is a sectional view in reduced scale on line 7-7 of FIG. 3;

FIG. 8 is a sectional view in reduced scale on line 8-8 of FIG. 3;

FIG. 9 is an exploded view of the component parts of the swivelconnector showing the same relatively separated for purposes ofillustration;

FIGS. l0, 11, 12, 13 and 14 are perspective views of certain componentsof the swivel connector illustrating the features and details of theconstruction thereof.

Referring to FIG. 1 of the drawings, a swivel connector embodying thepresent invention is designated C and is shown in conjunction with whatis known in the trade as a pole-lamp, comprising a tubular pole orstandard P and at least one lamp shade and socket assembly S which isadjustably connected to the pole P by the swivel connector C.

The swivel connector C com-prises an external tapered body member 1 anda detachable cap member 2 together with certain internal partshereinafter described. The external body member 1 of the connector C hasa continuous bore or passage extending coaxially therethrough, and thisbore or passage is of stepped construction, as best shown in FIG. 3, toprovide successive portions of respectively greater diameterprogressively from the outer end of the member 1 to the inner endthereof, as indicated at 3, 4, 5 and 6 respectively. As shown in FIG. 4of the drawings, the bore portion 3 is initially provided adjacent theouter end thereof with a reduced neck portion 7, the purpose of which isdescribed hereinafter.

One of the features of the swivel connection of the present inventionresides in the means provided for attaching the opposite ends of theconnector to the pole P and shade assembly S, respectively. In the pastthis has usually been accomplished by providing threaded portions onopposite ends of a connector and securing them to the pole P and shadeassembly S by means of nuts, a tedious and difficult task not only ininitial assembly of the lamp, but particularly when the nuts becomeloose and drop off .as a result of repeated adjustment of the shadeassembly S relative to the vertical or standard pole P.

In accordance with the present invention, as shown in FIGS. 6 and 9 ofthe drawings, the outer end face of the body member 1 of the connector Cis provided with a first pair of endwise projecting lugs 8 of radiallyelongated configuration arranged diametrically at opposite sides of thebore through the body member 1, and a second pair of endwise projectinglugs 9 of circumferentially arcuate configuration arranged diametricallyat opposite sides of said bore and equally spaced circumferentially withrespect to the lugs 8. By this construction and arrangement the wallthickness of the body member 1 between the adjacent lugs 8 and 9 issubstantially reduced and weakened at points 12 for a purposehereinafter described.

To receive the projecting lugs 8 and 9 of the body member 1, there isformed in the pole or standard P a circular opening 10 of a diameterjust slightly larger than the external diameter of the arcuate lugs 9,and having diametrically disposed vertically extending slots o-rrecesses 11 of a size and configuration to receive the radiallyelongated lugs 8 in the manner and relationship shown in FIG. 6 of thedrawings.

To attach and secure the body member 1 of the connector C to the pole orstandard P, the lugs 8 and 9 on the outer end face of the body member 1are inserted into the opening 10 and slots 11 as shown in FIGS. 4 and 6of the drawings. A rotary power tool 13 is inserted into the bore of thebody member 1 from the outer end thereof and brought to bear against thereduced neck portion 7, previously described. The tool 13 exerts aradial force on the neck portion 7 sufficient to fracture the wallportion of the body member 1 at the points 12, for example as shown at12a in FIG. 13 and to force the pairs of lugs 8 and 9 radially outwardinto interlocking engagement with the adjacent portions of the pole orstandard P, for example, as shown in FIG. 3 of the drawings. Theprovision of radially elongated lugs 8 and the interlocking engagementthereof in their vertically extending slots 11 of the pole lamp opening10 effectively secures the body member 1 against rotation with respectto the pole or standard P.

Mounted in the bore of the body member 1 is the female member, generallydesignated 15, of a ball and socket joint, the male member of which isgenerally designated 16. As shown in FIGS. 3 and 9, the female member 15has an enlarged head portion 17 which is received within the largestdiameter portion 6 of the bore through the body member 1 of theconnector and a tubular sleeve portion 18 of smaller diameter whichextends coaxially from the head portion 17 through the bore portion asubstantial distance into the bore portion 4. The female member 15 isfree to rotate within the body member 1 about the axis thereof withinpredetermined limits determined by a lug 19 provided externally on thehead portion 17 of the female member 15 and disposed for cooperativeengagement with a lug 20 provided interiorly of the bore surface 6 oflargest diameter. Preferably the lug 20 is provided at the top of thebore surface 6, as shown in FIG. 3, so that coaxial rotation of thefemale member 15 within the body member 1 is permitted through asubstantial arc, for example as shown by the arrows in FIG. 2 of thedrawings, but nevertheless an arc of less than 360.

As also shown in FIG. 3 of the drawings, an expansion spring 21 isprovided in the bore portion 5 of the body member 1 and circumscribesthe sleeve portion 18 of the female member 15. This spring 21 seatsagainst the annular shoulder 5a provided between the bore portions 4 and5 of the body member 1 and its other end engages against a confrontingshoulder 17a formed by the inner face of the head portion 17 of thefemale member 15.

The head portion 17 of the female member 15 is provided with asemi-spherical socket or recess 22 which receives therein thesemi-spherical ball portion 24 of the male member 16. As shown in FIGS.3 and 11 of the drawings, the semi-spherical recess or socket 22 of thefemale member 15 is provided with an axially extending arcuate lug orprojection 25 which engages within a correspondingly formed axiallyextending slot or groove 26 in the semi-spherical ball portion 24 of themale member 16. By this construction it will be observed that pivotal orrotational movement of the male member 16 relative to the female member15 is permitted in a plane containing the rotational axis of the femalemember 15 and substantially normal to the direction of rotation thereof.Both members 15 and 16 of the universal joint have a continuous bore orpassage extending coaxially therethrough for passage of an electricalcord from the pole P to the shade assembly S. The slot or groove 26 iscut-back or recessed as at 26a and a diametrically disposed cut-outrecess 26b is provided, as shown in FIG. 3, to afford clearance for theelectrical cord so that the latter will not be damaged by rotation ofthe male and female members 16 and 15 relative to one another.

The male member 16 is attached and secured to the lamp shade and socketassembly S much in the same manner as the body member 1 is attached andsecured to the lamp pole or standard P. Thus, as shown in FIG. 5 of thedrawings, the bore or passage through the male member 16 is providedadjacent its outer end with a reduced neck portion 27 and the exteriorof the reduced outer end portion 28 is provided with oppositely disposedfiat surface portions 29. To receive this outer end por- 4. tion 28 ofthe male member 16, an opening 30 of corresponding configuration isformed in the lamp shade S and an associated washer 31 disposedinteriorly of the lamp shade S to provide additional support andrigidity to the assembly.

To attach and secure the male member 16 of the connector to the lampshade assembly S, the outer end portion of the member is inserted intothe opening 30 and through the washer 31 as shown in FIG. 5 of thedrawings. A rotary power tool is then inserted into the bore and broughtto bear against the reduced neck portion 27 of the member 16. The tool13a exerts a radially outward force on the neck portion 27 sufiicient tofracture the end wall of the member 16 as indicated at 28a in FIG. 14and thereby force the adjacent end portions of the member 16 radiallyoutward into interlocking engagement with the adjacent portions of theshade assembly S, for example, as shown in FIG. 3 of the drawing.

The semi-spherical portion 24 of the male member 16 is retained seatedin the semi-spherical recess 22 of the female member 15 by means of thedetachable cap member 2 previously mentioned. The cap member 2 comprisesan axially transverse web portion 35 and an outer axially extendingcontinuous peripheral flange portion 36. The web portion 35 of the cap 2has a central opening 37 therethrough of smaller diameter than themaximum diameter of the semi-spherical ball portion 24 of the malemember 16 and this opening is provided with a corresponding concavesurface portion adapted to seat against the semi-spherical surface ofthe ball portion 24 of the said member 16, for example, in the relationshown in FIG. 3 of the drawings.

The radially extending continuous peripheral flange portion 36 of thecap 2 has an internal diameter large enough to receive therein thecircumferentially extending arcuate radial flange portions 38 providedon the outer surface of the inner larger end of the connector bodymember 1 as shown most clearly in FIGS. 3, 9 and 10 of the drawings. Apair of lugs 39 having inclined inner cam surfaces 39a are providedinteriorly of the flange portion 36 of the cap 2 at diametricallyopposite locations thereon and these lugs 39 are positioned to engagebehind the arcuate flange portions 38 on the body member 1 and securethe cap member 2 on the body member 1 substantially in the manner of abayonet type connection.

This may be accomplished by positioning the cap 2 circumferentially withrespect to the body member 1 so that the lugs 39 of the cap 2 may bepassed between the arcuate flange portions 38 on the body member 1 bymovement of the cap axially over the inner end of the body member 1 andthen rotating the cap in the clockwise direction with respect to FIG. 10to engage the lugs 39 behind the arcuate flange members 38 of thebody 1. In this connection, it will be noted, with reference to FIG. 9of the drawings, that the inner surfaces of the flange portions 38 areinclined in the clockwise direction with reference to FIG. 10 to providecam surfaces 40 (FIG. 9) for cooperative engagement by the cam surfaces39a of the lugs 39 during circumferential movement of the cap 2. The camsurfaces 40 are of less circumferential extent than the flanges 38 andwhen the cap 2 has been rotated sufficiently the lugs 39 ride off of thecam portions 40 and drop behind a shoulder 41 thereby locking the capmember 2 on the body member 1 against accidental disconnection.Diametrically opposed stops are provided by axial flange portions 38a(FIG. 9) to limit rotational movement of the cap 2 on the body 1.

With the cap member 2 thus locked on the body member 1 as described, theexpansion force of the spring 21 serves to maintain the male and femalemembers 16 and 15 firmly seated against each other and against the capmember 2 and the latter in turn against the body member 1 so that thereis sufficient frictional engagement between the moving parts of theconnector to maintain the lamp shade assembly 5 in the position to whichit is adjustably manipulated within the limits of movement provided bythe connector C. It will be apparent, of course, that the body member 1and the male member 16 must be separately and independently attached tothe lamp pole or standard P and the shade assembly S, respectively,before the connector is assembled and the cap 2 detachably secured uponthe body member 1 as described.

While a particular embodiment of the invention has been illustrated anddescribed, it is not intended to limit the invention to such disclosureand it is contemplated 1 that changes and modifications may be made andincorporated therein within the scope of the claims.

I claim:

1. A swivel connector comprising a body member, a female socket membermounted in said body member and axially rotatable therein,intercooperating lugs on said body and female members operable topredeterminedly limit rotation of the latter relative to the bodymember, a male ball member rotatably seated in said female member, a lugon one of said male and female members engaged in a slot in the otherthereof to limit rotational movement of the male and female membersrelative to each other to a plane containing the rotational axis of thefemale member, a cap member engaging the male member and detachablyinterlocked with the body member to retain the male member seated in thefemale member, a spring acting between the body member and female memberoperable to maintain the male and female members under compressionrelative to the cap member and the latter relative to the body member toprevent accidental disconnection of the cap member and maintain the maleand female members in the positions to which adjusted relative to oneanother and the body member, circumferentially arranged axiallyprojecting oppositely disposed pairs of circumferentially arcuate andradially elongated lugs at the outer end of said body member arrangedfor insertion through an opening in a support, the portions of the bodymember intermediate adjacent of said lugs being fracturable by apredetermined radial force applied internally of the body member todisplace said lugs radially outward into interlocking engagement withthe adjacent wall portion of said support.

2. A swivel connector comprising a body member, a female socket membermounted in said body member and axially rotatable therein,intercooperating lugs on said body and female members operable topredeterminedly limit rotation of the latter relative to the bodymember, a male ball member rotatably seated in said female member, a lugon one of said male and female members engaged in a slot in the otherthereof to limit rotational movement of the male and female membersrelative to each other to a plane containing the rotational axis of thefemale member, a cap member engaging the male member and detachablyinterlocked with the body member to retain the male member seated in thefemale member, a spring acting between the body member and female memberoperable to maintain the male and female members under compressionrelative to the cap member and the latter relative to the body member toprevent accidental disconnection of the cap member and maintain the maleand female members in the positions to which adjusted relative to oneanother and the body member, circumferentially arranged axiallyprojecting oppositely disposed pairs of circumferentially arcuate andradially elongated lugs at the outer end of said body member arrangedfor insertion through a correspondingly configurated opening in asupport, the portion of the body member intermediate adjacent of saidlugs being fracturable by a predetermined radial force appliedinternally of the body member to displace said lugs radially outwardinto interlocking engagement with the adjacent wall portion of saidsupport,

the radially elongated pair of said lugs when engaged in thecorrespondingly configurated portions of the opening in the supportoperating to prevent axial rotation of the body member relative to thesupport.

3. A swivel connector as claimed in claim 1 wherein the male ball memberis also provided at the outer end with circumferentially arrangedaxially projecting circumferentially arcuate lugs for insertion throughan opening in an adjacent structure, and the portions of the memberbetween adjacent lugs are weakened and fracturable by a predeterminedradial force applied internally of the member to displace said lugsoutwardly into interlocking engagement with the adjacent wall portion ofsaid structure.

4 A swivel connector comprising a body member, a female socket membermounted in said body member and axially rotatable therein, a male ballmember rotatably seated in said female member, a cap member engaging themale member and detachably interlocked with the body member to retainthe male member seated in the female member, a spring acting between thebody member and female member operable to maintain the male and femalemembers under compression relative to the cap member and the latterrelative to the body member to prevent accidental disconnection of thecap member and maintain the male and female members in the positions towhich adjusted relative to one another and the body member,circumferentially arranged axially projecting oppositely disposed pairsof lugs at the outer end of said body member arranged for insertionthrough an opening in a support, the portion of the body memberintermediate adjacent of said lugs being fracturable by a predeterminedradial force applied internally of the body member to displace said lugsradially outward into interlocking engagement with the adjacent wallportion of said support.

5. A swivel connector comprising a body member, a female socket membermounted in said body member and axially rotatable therein, a male ballmember rotatably seated in said female member, a cap member engaging themale member and detachably interlocked with the body member to retainthe male member seated in the female member, a spring acting between thebody member and female member operable to maintain the male and femalemembers under compression relative to the cap member and the latterrelative to the body member to prevent accidental disconnection of thecap member and maintain the male and female members in the positions towhich adjusted relative to one another and the body member,circumferentially arranged axially projecting oppositely disposed pairsof lugs at the outer ends of said body member and male ball memberrespectively arranged for insertion through openings in adjacentstructures, the portions of the body member and male ball memberintermediate adjacent lugs being fracturable by a predetermined radialforce applied internally of the said members to displace said lugsradially outward into interlocking engagement with the adjacent wallportions of the adjacent structures, and said lugs when engaged withsaid wall portions operating to prevent axial rotation of the bodymember and male ball member relative thereto.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,867,206 7/1932Brady 248-223 X 2,859,983 11/1958 May 285269 X 3,104,067 9/1963 Stiifel285-269 X 3,154,283 10/1964 Spinnato. 3,179,367 4/1965 Rapata 248-223 XNORTON ANSHER, Primary Examiner.

CHARLES C. LOGAN, Assistant Examiner.

4. A SWIVEL CONNECTION COMPRISING A BODY MEMBER, A FEMALE SOCKET MEMBERMOUNTED IN SAID BODY MEMBER AND AXIALLY ROTATABLE THEREIN, A MALE BALLMEMBER ROTATABLY SEATED IN SAID FEMALE MEMBER, A CAP MEMBER ENGAGING THEMALE MEMBER AND DETACHABLY INTERLOCKED WITH THE BODY MEMBER TO RETAINTHE MALE MEMBER SEATED IN THE FEMALE MEMBER, A SPRING ACTING BETWEEN THEBODY MEMBER AND FEMALE MEMBET OPERABLE TO MAINTAIN THE MALE AND FEMALEMEMBERS UNDER COMPRESSION RELATIVE TO THE CAP MEMBER AND THE LATTERRELATIVE TO THE BODY MEMBER TO PREVENT ACCIDENTAL DISCONNECTION OF THECAP MEMBER AND MAINTAIN THE MALE AND FEMALE MEMBERS IN THE POSITIONS TOWHICH ADJUSTED RELATIVE TO ONE ANOTHER AND THE BODY MEMBER,CIRCUMFERENTIALLY ARRANGED AXIALLY PROJECTING OPPOSITELY DISPOSED PAIRSOF LUGS AT THE OUTER END OF SAID BODY MEMBER ARRANGED FOR INSERTIONTHROUGH AN OPENING IN A SUPPORT, THE PORTION OF THE BODY MEMBERINTERMEDIATE ADJACENT OF SAID LUGS BEING FRACTURABLE BY A PREDETERMINEDRADIAL FORCE APPLIED INTERNALLY OF THE BODY MEMBER TO DISPLACE SAID LUGSRADIALLY OUTWARD INTO INTERLOCKING ENGAGEMENT WITH THE ADJACENT WALLPORTION OF SAID SUPPORT.